Left Behind - the game

[mastersquirrel]

And we get off subject. I'm just saying what a mod would say when I say "Use the PMs". They're there for a reason.

Hmm... I don't have anything new to bring to my previous post... so I'll leave it at that.

[Arnobius]

If not all Christians believe in rapture, then what other parts of the Bible do they not believe?

If the Bible says the rapture is going to happen, I bleieve it. Any other belief would be deciding to forget Revalation exists or misreading Scripture.

Once again, AnimeHeretic, let us move this to PM.

If you want to move it into PM by all means do so, but please do not engage in "last tag" by phrasing questions in this way.

Some Christians believe the "Left Behind" series is a misunderstanding of Revelations, so to imply they reject Revelations because they don't believe in the concept of the Rapture is engaging in denominationalism.

[Bobtheduck]

PMing Tom... Short version: I think pretrib doctrine is heracy, personally... So, anyone who wants to discuss this with me, PM me... Sorry if even this message went too far, but I wanted people to know why they would or wouldn't want to PM me...

That aside, this game is stupid... There has not been, to date, a good Christian game... There won't be as long as Christians continue to have the attitude toward games that they do now...

[uc pseudonym]

In case that isn't clear enough (and your self-moderation is appreciated), let me offer an official word: take discussion of apocalyptic theology to PM. I will remain silent on my feelings on that subject.

Meanwhile, I am holding back comment on this game. There is apparently a fair amount of misinformation on the internet about it, and I have yet to read a source that I am confident is accurate. But if it contains many of theological implications that I have seen (setting quite aside) I think I disapprove very strongly. We'll have to see.

[Scarecrow]

I just found out the game is loaded with unremoveable spyware that is loaded into the computer once you install the game and it wont install without it. Although I hear if you are a master at programing, you can work around this.

Anyway, they will be able to track the location of your computer and how many times you use it. Along with that they are going to be uploading location specific ads... so like your local pizza place can have their own signs in the game and other "innovative" forms of advertising.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/left-behind/left-behind-infected-with-bornagain-spyware-182789.php

You know, with all this servailance and stuff... wouldnt it be ironic if a "Christian" game, thats purpose is to give Christians some "wholesome" gaming along with converting non-believers, became part of that mark of the beast thing everyone always freaks out about (you know, the thing about computer chips or whatever being the mark of the beast ) Lol..

[mastersquirrel]

Out of curiosity, has this been confirmed by anyone else?

[Arnobius]

Well one of these sites (talk2action) referenced to in the link provided by Scarecrow is an anti-Christian site it seems, and it seems this talk 2 action is the site the other articles I Googled linked to as their source. So it seems there is no real confirmation of this from an unbiased source yet.

[uc pseudonym]

I'm fairly confident that this is either misinformation or willful lying. Though I'm no fan of this game on a variety of levels, from what I have heard there is quite a bit of confusion regarding it due to dubious sources and many sites such as this. While it would be somewhat funny if the game really had spyware, I don't think that it would serve much purpose.

[Nate]

I see it mentioned on Ars Technica, and a couple of other websites, but I dunno. It would be nice if the people who made the game came out and confirmed or denied it.

Anyway, no video game thread would be complete without mentioning Jack Thompson, and he has his views on the game...namely, that the makers of the game are sacrificing their values. To quote him,

"Because of the Christian context, somehow it's OK? It's not OK. The context is irrelevant. It's a mass-killing game."

The dispute over the game has caused Thompson to sever ties with Tyndale House, which publishes both the Left Behind books and Thompson's book, Out of Harm's Way. Thompson has not seen the game, which he says has "personally broken my heart," but claims, "I don't have to meet Abraham Lincoln to know that he was the 16th president of the United States."

[mastersquirrel]

Anyway, no video game thread would be complete without mentioning Jack Thompson, and he has his views on the game...namely, that the makers of the game are sacrificing their values. To quote him,

"Because of the Christian context, somehow it's OK? It's not OK. The context is irrelevant. It's a mass-killing game."

The dispute over the game has caused Thompson to sever ties with Tyndale House, which publishes both the Left Behind books and Thompson's book, Out of Harm's Way. Thompson has not seen the game, which he says has "personally broken my heart," but claims, "I don't have to meet Abraham Lincoln to know that he was the 16th president of the United States."

And I don't have to meet Jack Thompson to know that he's full of it.

Yes the game's got killing, it's a war! Maybe he should try to ban war instead of video games. Or better yet, we should ban death in general. That should cover most of it.

[Arnobius]

Looking on line at the sites discussing the game, Jack Thompson and Talk 2 Action, I am seeing one major trend here. The game seems to be good stick for the anti-Christians to beat Christianity with. The sites I could find tend to agree that the game gives the player two choices when it comes to non believers: Convert them or kill them.

I hope this is a misrepresentation of the game, because if it is not it provides fodder for those opposed to Christianity to make comparisons between Christianity and Islamic extremists.

There is also some talk going on about it being possible to play the other side and kill Christians (which has the forums I've seen full of gleeful posts from those hostile to Christianity).

If these claims are true (though given the sources it might not-- I have yet to see anything objective written on the game) then the game seems like a very bad idea and something to be avoided.

[Nate]

There is also some talk going on about it being possible to play the other side and kill Christians (which has the forums I've seen full of gleeful posts from those hostile to Christianity).

From what I've read, yes, in multiplayer games you have the option of playing the antichrist's forces.

[Arnobius]

From what I've read, yes, in multiplayer games you have the option of playing the antichrist's forces.

Ah, ok so what I read was a misrepresentation then. Thanks

(Though I still have no interest in playing the game )

EDIT: Well, after doing my research, it seems that "Talk 2 Action" is the source of all the negative press about the game, and is not at all objective in their reporting. So while I have to disagree with the theology of the books and game, it seems most of the negative hype is unsubstantiated at this time.

[Authority3000]

Due to the confirmed fact that Eternal Forces is indeed going to contain privacy infringing adware (in the form of an in-game advertising engine that tracks how long you have viewed their animated billboards ads and sends that information back to Double Fusion's ad servers), I'd advise keeping away from it.

It's rather detestable to think that any company would force you to pay for a product, only to include spyware within it, and IMO even more so to think that one of the first "legitimate" companies to do so, claims to be Christian.

Regardless of the intension of this game's developers, their idea of putting spyware in Internal Forces is a very bad one indeed and shall heavily hurt the game's sells as well as serve as yet another minor "mark against Christianity" for bloggers to rave about.